A raw deal

California is one of four U.S. states that allows the sale of raw milk in stores, but this January, consumers may have a difficult time finding it at their local grocery store. Earlier this month a bill was passed that would require dairy products to meet a strict limit of coliform bacteria before heading to store shelves. Local dairy farmers fear that this is the beginning of the end for the sale unpasturized milk in California.

There’s been a rising demand for raw milk in recent years due in part to an increasingly health conscious public. Proponents of raw milk argue that the live bacteria found in raw milk helps strengthen the immune system and reduce the effects of allergies, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration worries about pathogens sometimes found in unpasturized milk.

In the past year and a half, consumers have seen e-coli ridden bagged spinach, contaminated frozen seafood imported from Asia, and tainted mass produced beef patties, removed from supermarket shelves across the country. It’s understandable that food safety is on the minds of legislators across the country.